When Work Won’t Close For Your Safety
Have you ever been trapped in a storm, sitting in your car, gripping the wheel so tight it feels like your knuckles might explode, thinking, “I could be anywhere else right now—safely”?
That was me at 4:30 a.m., driving through torrential rain, lightning flashing 18 times since I parked, and wind so strong it felt like it might push me off the road.
Heavy rain, high winds, and floods had been battering our island for over a week. Sure, we need the rain to keep the greenery alive—but Mother Nature was working overtime.
I work in a warehouse, and part of my job means hauling freight from the yard into the building. In ideal conditions, that’s fine. But today? Not so much.
By the ninth lightning flash, one of them was so bright I felt momentarily blinded. Luckily, the road was straight and empty—but it made me think: why do jobs expect us to risk ourselves in conditions like this?
Why Am I Working During a Storm?
Simple question. Complicated answer.
I can’t afford to look for another job right now.
Life throws curveballs—rising rent, bills, fractured sleep, and jobs that expect you to treat your safety like an optional bonus. My assets are already set to go to my parents if something happens. Because nothing says “good morning” like questioning your mortality at 4:30 a.m., right?
I’d love to work from home, write, or do something dry and safe. But my current job literally pays me to work out—just not under these conditions.
So the goal for today? Survive. And maybe, just maybe, make it home in one piece.
The Reality of Hazard Pay—or the Lack Thereof
A little extra compensation in extreme weather would be nice. Even if it only happened once in a while, it would show management that they value our safety. But wishful thinking aside, the storm doesn’t care about your paycheck—it’s just going to keep raining. And we just keep working.
If You Made It to the End
Thanks for reading my work rant.
Most of us have had days when we’d rather be anywhere else than at work—especially in extreme weather.
And while this is my personal experience, the underlying reality touches many: jobs sometimes expect us to treat ourselves as invincible.
If this story resonates, feel free to like, comment, subscribe, or share with someone else questioning why they’re out in the storm.
What’s the worst weather you’ve had to work through?
Explore The Archives
I write about more than just questioning my life choices at 4 a.m.
You’ll find posts on:
- Training in non-ideal conditions
- Personal finances under real pressure
- DIY projects (because I’m broke and bored)
- And whatever else I end up dealing with
Feel free to explore the archives or check out some of my other posts.
Otherwise, I’ll see you all after I survive Mother Nature—and my job’s decision to stay open, rain or shine.
Wish me luck.
- The Stratagem’s Archive: Start Here
- When a Raise Feels Like a Golden Prison
- I’m Afraid of Wasting My Potential — So I Learn Everything I Can, While I Can.
- Gifts From The Archives: PDFs Galore, View Here
Update: Mother Nature is Off The Clock
Never mind. I woke up earlier this morning, the rain had settled, the clouds were slowly dispersing, the sun was slowly peaking through the haze, and now it is hot!
Like clothes sticking to your skin uncomfortably hot.
At least I don’t have to worry about getting struck by lightning or drenched to the bone in the torrential rain anymore.
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